Borough's health services receive £1million boost

THURROCK’S health services are to get a £1.1million boost after the council won back money it lost when services became the responsibility of local authorities in April.

The council had been losing out on money because the South West Essex Primary Care Trust, which was abolished when changes to the NHS came into affect, had not submitted correct information to the Department for Health.

This meant Thurrock was receiving less money than neighbouring areas.

Barbara Rice, the council’s lead on health, said cuts that were being considered will no longer have to be made.

She said: “Everyone was told that nobody would miss out financially when public health responsibilities were transferred to councils.

“That wasn’t the case in Thurrock. We had to seriously consider making cuts to our services this year. It’s only because we were so confident of our case that we didn’t have to make the level of cuts we feared.”

Michael Brodie, the Finance and Commercial Director, Public Health England, wrote to Thurrock chief executive Graham Farrant admitting an error had been made and said the money will be paid in January.

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